Finasteride or Minoxidil? Which is more effective for hair loss?
Male Pattern Baldness is the most common form of hair loss experienced by men. It affects about two-thirds of men by the age of 35, and in some cases can begin much earlier.
There are only two different medicines which have been scientifically proven to be effective when it comes to preventing hair loss: Finasteride and Minoxidil.
While these treatments have some similarities, there are also some very important distinctions which you should be aware of before you start treating your hair loss.
What is Finasteride?
Finasteride is a hair loss treatment for men experiencing Male Pattern Baldness. It has been proven to be effective at preventing hair loss and encouraging hair regrowth, in 90% of men who use it. The treatment works by reducing levels of DHT, the hormone which is primarily responsible for Male Pattern Baldness.
Finasteride comes in two different forms. We’ll explain some of the key differences between them, including how effective both treatments are, in more detail below.
Topical Finasteride and Oral Finasteride: What’s the Difference?
Medicines generally come in two forms: oral medicines, such as tablets or drinks, or topical medicines such as creams, gels and other liquids.
Topical Finasteride solution is now available as a hair loss treatment for guys who are experiencing Male Pattern Baldness. The treatment has been shown to be just as effective as oral Finasteride, and because the treatment is applied directly to the scalp, it is less likely to affect other areas of the body. This also means that there may be a much lower chance of experiencing side effects from using the treatment.
Additionally, Topical Finasteride can be combined with other ingredients, such as Minoxidil, into a single treatment for greater convenience. This is a good option for guys who would otherwise need to both take a pill and apply a solution to their scalp every day.
These are just some of the reasons why more and more guys are now choosing Topical Finasteride as their choice of hair loss treatment, instead of oral Finasteride tablets.
What is Minoxidil?
Minoxidil is another effective hair loss treatment for men. The treatment is directly applied to the scalp twice a day, and it is believed to work by dilating the blood vessels around hair follicles, increasing the nutrient supply to them and allowing them to grow thicker, stronger hair. Minoxidil is particularly effective for hair thinning on the crown of your head, where it can regrow hair and prevent bald spots.
Minoxidil is very effective, and up to 70% of guys who take the treatment see a significant difference in their level of hair loss.
Which is More Effective?
Finasteride and Minoxidil are both widely used medicines, and several studies have shown that they are both highly effective when it comes to treating hair loss. However, there are some differences in the results that are important to know before you begin your own treatment journey.
One study, conducted in 2004, compared the effectiveness of oral Finasteride tablets against a topical Minoxidil solution, with two groups taking each treatment for 12 months. The results showed that there was an increased hair density in 80% of the patients who received oral Finasteride tablets, and 52% of patients that received the Minoxidil solution, showing that Finasteride was a far more effective hair loss treatment.
In addition, any side effects encountered as a result of either treatment were mild, and “disappeared as soon as the treatment was stopped”.
Another group of researchers studied the hair loss experiences of three groups: one taking oral Finasteride, one taking Topical Minoxidil, and one taking a combination of both. The results of the study showed that all groups showed improvement, despite taking different treatments.
Interestingly, the men who received a combination of Finasteride and Minoxidil actually showed the most improvement out of all three groups, with 94% of the combined treatment group showing improvement, compared to 80% in the oral Finasteride group, and 59% of the group taking Minoxidil. This shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise – we know that Finasteride and Minoxidil work differently to prevent and combat hair loss. This suggests that combining both treatments into one solution can often be the best option
The Best of both worlds: Topical Finasteride with Minoxidil
As mentioned earlier, studies have shown that a combination of Finasteride and Minoxidil can actually provide better results than either Finasteride tablets or Minoxidil solution alone.
This suggests that a ‘best of both worlds’ solution could be beneficial for guys who are looking for the most effective treatment on the market.
Topical Finasteride and Minoxidil solution, which helps combat hair loss and promote hair regrowth. The liquid solution is applied directly to the scalp twice per day, where it lowers levels of DHT, similarly to oral Finasteride, and stimulates the hair follicles.
However, the fact that it is applied to the scalp also means that it is less likely to affect other areas of the body. One of the drawbacks of oral Finasteride tablets is that in some rare cases there are side effects, however, multiple studies have shown that this isn’t the case with Topical Finasteride.
Which Treatment is Right for You?
Now that you’re more familiar with some of the differences between Finasteride and Minoxidil, and what you can expect from a combination of both, hopefully you can feel more comfortable when choosing which hair loss treatment is right for you.
However, if you need a bit more help deciding which path to choose, why not reach out to the Hims team? We’re more than happy to help answer any questions you may have about treatments, prices and how our service works.
Hair Loss Treatments from Hims
Whichever hair loss treatment you think is best for you, Hims provides a no-hassle subscription package that can be delivered straight to your door each month, so you can start preventing hair loss today.
Discover which haircut you should get for your face shape
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.
